String-fastener for musical instruments.



No. 683,282. Patented Sept. 24, I90l.

I e. HOLT.

STRING FASTEIER FOB IUSICAL INSTHUIEITS.

(Lppliutizlbd Inn. 2, 1901.)

(I0 Iodol.)

A TTOR/VE Y8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIEE.

GEORGE HOLT, OF DIXFIELD, MAINE.

STRlNG-FASTENER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,282, dated September 24, 1901.

Application filed January 2, 1901. Serial No. 41,887. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE HOLT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dixfield, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved String-Fastener for Musical Instruments, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to musical instruments, and particularly to violins and the like, and has for its object to provide a device by which a supplementary string, as the E-string of a violin, may be held in readiness for immediate use in case the original string should break.

To this end my invention consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts,as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tail end of a violin, showing my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of the tailpiece with my string fastened thereon. Fig. 3 is a similar view, but with the string-fastener in a different position; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two of the parts of my invention.

A is the body of a violin or like instrument, and B the tailpiece, to which some of the strings O are secured in the ordinary way, while the fourth string 0, which is the E- string of a violin, is secured by means of my improved string-fastener, which is located at the center of the tailpiece, slightly to the rear of the string-holes B This fastener comprises a. reel D,on which the string is adapted to be wound, the said reel being provided with a sleeve D and a cross-pin D the upper end of the sleeve D having a flange D which sits upon an interior flange F at the lower end of a locking plate or collar F, secured within a socket B, made in the tailpiece B. At the lower end of the said socket I provide a recess into which is adapted to fit the upper flange of the reel D. Into the sleeve D fits the stem E of the reel-spindle, said stem being provided with two longitudinal slots E, into which fits the pin D so that the spindle is capable of a limited longitudinal movement relatively to the reel. The upper end of the spindle carries a head E, secured thereto by a pin E and serving to turn the spindle and the reel therewith. The reel-spindle is further provided with a cross pin E, projecting therefrom and adapted to engage two slots F, provided in the locking plate or collar F, which is rigidly secured at the upper end of the socket '13. The slots F are practically bayonet-slots.

In operation one end of the string is secured to the tuning-peg, as usual, and the other end of the string is passed through the hole B and wound on the reel D, the spindle be ing in the lifted position, (shown in Fig. 3,) so that it can turn freely. It will be remembered that E-strings are currently made in from four to six lengths. Therefore the material wound on the reel D will be suflicient to replace the string 0 many times in case it should break. When the string has been wound on the reel D, the spindle is lowered, so that the pin E will engage the slots F, and then upon turning the tuning-peg to give the string the proper tension the pull on the string will turn the spindle into the locking position, so that the reel .D will be held against turning. Should the string 0 break, the performer will simply slightly turn the head E (and this can be done easily, since the tension of the string no longer holds the reel-spindle locked,) and then the performer will raise the spindle into the position shown in Fig. 3, so that the reel can be turned freely. After fastening the new end of the string to the tuning-peg the performer will again lower the reel-spindle to lock it with the collar F, as before described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-= 1. A tailpiece for musical instruments,having a string-reel located below the tailpiece and journaled therein, a locking device movable up and down through the tailpiece and projecting above the same, said locking de vice beingmount-ed to turn with thereeL-and turn .with the reel but capable of moving being adapted, when in one of its positions, lengthwise thereof, and a. stationarylockingfor locking engagement with the tailpiece. collar having a bayonet-slot adapted for lock- 2. A string reel for musical instruments, ing engagement with a part of the spindle. I 5

5 comprising a reel proper, a spindle held to In testimony whereof I have signed my turn with the reel but capable ofmoving name-tothisspecification in the presence of b lengthwise thereof, and a stationary retaintwo s nbscribing witnesses.

:ing device arranged to lock the spindle in one GEORGE HOLT; of its positions. 7 V Witnesses: .co 8. A string reel for musical instruments; JOHN S. HARLOW,

comprising a reel proper; a spindle held-"to GEO: A. MARSH. 

